Baker & McKenzie Joins Korea Rush

Baker & McKenzie announced Tuesday it had applied to the Korean Ministry of Justice for approval to open an office in Seoul, joining almost 20 other international firms that have also applied or stated their intention to do so. The office will be Baker & McKenzie's 73rd worldwide, and its 15th in the Asia-Pacific region.

Tom Brennan

2012-11-21 12:00:00 AM

Baker & McKenzie has added its name to the list of firms looking to enter Korea.

The Chicago-based firm announced Tuesday it had applied to the Korean Ministry of Justice for approval to open an office in Seoul. Baker & McKenzie joins almost 20 other international firms that have also applied or stated their intention to do so.

Several, including Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, Ropes & Gray, and Clifford Chance, have already been approved and have officially opened their offices in Seoul.

Baker & McKenzie said Nam Hung Paik will lead the office once the application is granted. Paik's current position at the firm is unclear. Though once a Chicago partner at the firm, Paik was described in the firm's announcement only as a "veteran lawyer" and has no profile on the Baker & McKenzie website.

Neither a firm spokesperson nor Hong Kong-based Korea practice head Won Lee responded to requests for comment.

In a statement, the firm said its Seoul office would be focusing primarily on cross-border matters for Korean companies, including mergers and acquisitions, antitrust and intellectual property litigation.

The office will be Baker & McKenzie's 73rd worldwide, and its 15th in the Asia-Pacific region.